NationStates Jolt Archive

AP, Nueva Colon

In Nueva Colon, crowds celebrated the installation of Emilio Sotelo as President of the newly formed People’s Republic of Confedracia. Following the arrival of thousands of soldiers of the militant left wing 19th of September Movement (or Red Brigades as it is also known) in the capital last Thursday, the former Republic of Confedracia has undergone rapid dissolution, with the remnants of the tired Confedracian National Army either surrendering to Red Brigade commandants or fleeing into the hills. Sotelo himself has long been a close friend and confidant of General Largo Cortes, the alleged commander of the Red Brigades and a well known Marxist political theorist and guerilla tactician.

The installation of Sotelo as head of the new People’s Republic marks the end of a three year struggle by Confedracian left wing organizations unified under the umbrella Communist Party of Confedracia to seize power from the moderate government of Alejandro Perla. Perla, for his part, was accused by several foreign governments of vast abuses of power and disregard for the democratic system during his ten year term of office. Reports of his current whereabouts differ, however he is widely believed to have fled the country shortly before the arrival of leftist troops in Nueva Colon.

Sotelo, in a speech made on the steps of the Parliament building earlier today promised a return to decency and integrity in government, socialism, and the “return” of the country’s vast oil and natural gas reserves to the Confedracian people. It is open to speculation whether this means the nationalization of the fossil fuel industry, however the rhetoric of General Cortes describing foreign oil companies as “leeches on the nation’s bloodstream” leads many to believe this will be the inevitable result.

For the moment, however, red banners decorate the streets of Confedracia’s major cities as Cortes’ army makes movements to secure the rest of the country and establish a new government.

-Eduardo Carranco

Congratulations on your new achievement, there is no ideology like the Communist Ideology, something that shouldn't be feared.

OOC: A couple of quick questions:

Where is your nation located geographically?

What is your population for RP purposes?

The Government of Sans Semmes would like to congratulate you on freeing your country from Perla's totalitarian grasp, and look forward to seeing you advancing the Communist ideal.

OOC: A couple of quick questions:

Where is your nation located geographically?

What is your population for RP purposes?

OOC: I haven't plotted it on the world map exactly, since NS nations exist in some extra-geographical limbo, but I imagine it would be somewhere in the Caribbean. A very large island, about the size of France or Spain. My NS population is 1 billion, but i'll scale it down to about 50 million people for the moment.

Text of President Emilio Sotelo’s Speech on the steps of the Parliament Building

“Fellow Confedracians, today is a memorable day indeed, for today, this 19th of September, marks the third anniversary of the beginning of the glorious popular movement. It was three years ago that General Cortes, your brother and defender, rejected the dictatorship of Perla and swore that he would liberate this great country by force of arms. He knew then that he would have the support of you, the Confedracian people, and now at the hour of our triumph we know that we have it still. Let us honor General Perla, and the sacrifice he and his followers have made!”

[Break for applause]

“It is a new era for this nation, a return to honest government and the socialist way that the ten years’ tyranny of the Republic, Perla, and his parliament lapdogs tried to destroy. But they were not successful! The dream of equality and human decency was never crushed in your breasts, and it is this dream that we now have the power to realize. We are free of our shackles; of manipulation by our enemies who flee into the wilderness like ants after their hill has been swept away. We are free of the tyranny of foreign governments who have used your labor to fill their pockets and drain the blood of your country. With the aid of our allies, the brave soldiers of the 19th of September Movement, and of the Communist Party of Confedracia, I will return this nation’s resources to you. I will drive away the foreign companies that have suckled for too long at Confedracia’s breast.”

[Break for applause]

“This country is no longer at the mercy of tyrants, foreign spies, and capitalist adventurers. We are our own nation; we are strong, and proud, and free. We are equal! Your will is as potent as mine in the determining the direction of this country. The Red Banners show this, and the crowds show it also. Your celebrations tonight are a great sigh of relief from deep in the breast of this country. Tomorrow, you will wake up to a great task: rebuilding this nation in the image of Marx’s vision. Tonight, however, be carefree and celebrate the end of a dark period in our history. Confedracia, I salute you!”

[break for applause]

OOC: I'm likewise located somewhere near where the RL Caribbean. Tolvan is rather capitalistic and home to lseveral corporations that like to exploit the neighbors, so I guess that makes us natural enemies.

IC:

**OFFICIAL STATEMENT**

The Commonwealth of Tolvan is greatly saddened to hear of the seizure of power by communist elements in the nearby nation of Confedracia. As the newly elected president of said nation has made several public threats against the private property owned by Tolvanic corporations, the Commonwealth has no recourse but to denounce this coup and hereby refuses to recognize the legitmacy of this "government". I must alos announce that the Commowealth is considering the imposition of sanctions against Confederica. As it stands the Foreign Office has already issued a Travel Advisory for Tolvanic citizens considering travel to Confedracia.

Additionally, we will be deploying elements of the Tolvanic Navy to patrol the waters off Confedracia and to ensure the safety of our citizens and their property.

Tyler Hutchins
Prime Minister
Commonwealth of Tolvan

OOC: My population for RP purposes is about 950 million, not the 3.5 billion on my page.

Excerpt from major international news broadcast on the Confedracian situation

“Disregarding harsh statements from the neighboring power of Tolvan, the new People’s Republic of Confedracia, fronted by President Emilio Sotelo proceeded with plans to nationalize the country’s oil and gas industry. In a public statement issued a mere two days following his assumption of the presidency, Sotelo stated that he and “the Confedracian people would not allow themselves to be intimidated by powers seeking to exploit them.” This came after a statement issued by Sotelo’s government giving all foreign employees of private oil companies two weeks to abandon their posts and leave the country, apparently in preparation for seizure of company properties.

Throughout the rest of the nation, soldiers of the 19th of September Movement, now the Confedracian National People’s Army, continued their occupation of major towns and cities. Ignoring Tolvan naval activity, Confedracian naval units surrounded several offshore oil platforms owned by foreign corporations and broadcasted the earlier declaration.”

Puerto Garcia Naval Base

Fortunately there were very few Tolvanic business interest operating on Confedracian soil and most of those were simply closing shop and leaving. Unfortunately, Tolvanic Petroleum owned fifty offshore platforms currently drilling the lucrative Bahía de Fuego oilfields. These fields were located in international waters and TP, as well as the Tolvanic government, had no intetnion of giving them up.

A little after 0400 hours a force of some thirty warships left the harbor and set a course for the oilfields. At the same time, fifty CH-105E "Hurricane" heavy cargo helos tooks off from Fort Stewart bound for Bahía de Fuego. Each helo carried a forty man rifle platoon, an engineer squad, and a three man Stinger MANPADS team. Each helo was bound for a different oil platform, Confedracians could threaten civillian drillers all they liked, but the government hoped the presence of armed troops would allow cooler heads to prevail. The The big helos were met en route by twenty-four F-198A "Pandora" fighters to provide them with escort.

“In response to several high level protests from private business interests and international organizations, President Sotelo of Confedracia issued a brief statement once more declaring his government’s commitment to the nationalization of the oil and gas industry in his nation. When questioned about reported naval activity by neighboring Tolvan, Sotelo was evasive and reiterated his previous statement that he refuses to allow the Confedracian people to be-”

The television clicked off, and Sotelo tossed the remote onto the couch, beside a seated General Cortes. Flicking the ash from the end of his cigar, the man clad in simple green fatigues paged absent-mindedly through the evening edition of El Nuevo Revolucionario.

“You worry too much,” said the General, around his cigar. “You should be happy. You’ve been given everything we promised you.”

Sotelo was silent, and paced over to the window overlooking the courtyard of the Presidential mansion.

“Everything? No,” he said, coldly. “Where is the overwhelming international support? The billions in foreign aid? The global revolution?”

“In time, my president. Revolution in one country is spontaneous, but the nations of the world are backward. They must learn to trust us. Once we have shown the world that we can build a utopia here, then they will flock to us.”

“The only ones flocking to Confedracia are our enemies. They are circling us like sharks.”

General Cortes put the paper aside and stood up.

“You cannot falter. You doubt the people too much. They are behind us. This is all the strength we need. We will build a socialist state here, with schools and hospitals, and when the time comes, we will build a new army; a revolutionary guard to rally allies to us and make our enemies fear us.”

He walked towards the door.

“Be patient, comrade. Be patient.”

----

Fabrizio Acosta was full of pride as he draped the red banner over the railing, high above the sparkling waters below. On the gunboat below, his comrades cheered him as other vessels circled the massive drilling platform. It was one of several off the coast, yet still within proper Confedracian waters. It had been abandoned yesterday in the dead of night, and the elements of the Confedracian people’s army had found little resistance when they boarded and requisitioned it in the name of President Sotelo and their nation.

A few bars of the “19th of September,” the anthem of the guerillas drifted up to him as he turned and walked inside a small office. His superior had turned on the radio, which was broadcasting Sotelo’s speech of the previous day.

“It sounds good, doesn’t it comrade?” said the officer, smiling. “He is a good man. He fights for us, just like we fight for him.”

Acosta nodded, also smiling.

“For once, we can be proud of our nation,” he continued. “The people are slow to mobilize, but now that we have freed them, they throw their weight behind us. We are the vanguard.”

Outside, the noise of distant helicopters began to rise. Acosta looked out over the sea, and could make out silhouettes moving on the horizon.

“Pigs,” he spat. The officer laughed.

“They’re resisting the inevitable,” he said, confidently. “It’s the death throws of an old system. The exploitive powers are reeling after our success. They’ll try anything to oppose us, but we have the momentum. In time, we’ll confront them and they will crumble like the old government here.”

“I’d like to drive a stake through every one of their hearts,” Acosta said quietly, turning away from the window.

--------------

Official Declaration From the Government of the People’s Republic of Confedracia

Following the glorious people’s revolution in our nation and the destruction of the old government of the tyrant Perla, the proud nation of Confedracia declares itself a socialist state under the guidance of President Emilio Sotelo. We appeal to likeminded nations of the world to aid us as we construct a true People’s Republic, and strive to destroy the old, corrupt capitalist institutions. As part of our plan to return the resources of this land to its people, we, the government of Confedracia, will requisition all assets of foreign-owned oil companies within Confedracian territory. Therefore, we have provided a period of two weeks for foreign personnel in the pay of these companies to leave our nation and turn their equipment and property over to the Confedracian government.

The People’s Republic will continue to respect all properties not within our territory or territorial waters.

“Comrades! We welcome you onto the world stage and congratulate your people on successfully overthrowing a tyranny and replacing it with a socialist system of governing. We in Hallad know all too well the tyranny of capitalism and foreign domination. But now we are independent and strong, a leader in the socialist world. Your efforts to nationalize the commanding heights of the economy are commendable, and we deeply sympathize with your plight to control your own nations gas and oil – we too fought that battle, and won! And now the success of the Halladi oil industry is shared by the people. We of Hallad offer our hand in friendship and would like to formally open diplomatic and economic relations. We are willing to help in any way that we can.”

Talal Ghazi
People's Commissar of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs
The Halladi Arab Worker's Republic

We thank you, comrades, for your words of support. This is truly a proud time in our nation’s history and the coming months will define the future of our new state as we struggle to build a strong socialist system. We are glad to have found a powerful likeminded socialist nation in a world increasingly dominated by erratic power mongers and reactionaries, and would be pleased to open diplomatic and economic relations with the Halladi Workers’ Republic. We would be proud to offer any diplomatic mission you choose to send the old residence of the dictator’s financial minister. We believe it would be a fitting spot for an embassy. Furthermore, once the nationalization process is complete, we would be proud to begin trading oil and natural gas with your nation, and would be eager to discuss the trade of other natural resources and agricultural produce.

Though Confedracia is proud and independent, we are yet a small nation threatened by our larger neighbors who are hostile to the revolution. General Cortes, commander of the National People’s Army, has therefore ventured to request the creation of an officer exchange program, that our former guerillas can be trained in modern tactics and the ways of professional soldiery. Any form of aid that would allow us to develop further our industry and agriculture would also be appreciated.

The nation of Confedracia is truly grateful to have found a state receptive to the people’s revolution.

President Emilio Sotelo

Oil Platform Able Venture VII
Bahía de Fuego Oilfields
0550 Hours

Able Venture VII was the nearest platform to the inbound helos and as such was the first to be garrisoned. Normally operations on a sea based oil rig would have been handled by either the Special Boat Service (SBS) or a marine unit. However, given the speed with which the situation had developed the decision was made to use elements from the 19th Airmobile Regiment to garrison the drilling platforms.

As soon as the helo had touched down, the rear ramp dropped and the paras began to disembark. Several teams set to work unloading boxes and large bags of equipment, while others moved to take over key positions throughout the platform. The commander of this particular platoon, Lieutenant Miguel Goza, led a small team to the platforms control center. Once inside he immediately sought out the Platform Manager.

"Heard you hombres might need some babysitters to keep the damn commies from taking your shiny toys."

The Manager was less than pleased by this, but knew better than to start a fight with the man responsible for his safety. "I'll send some men to help your boys get settled in and figure out where you wanna set up."

Bahía de Fuego Oilfields
0700 Hours

Within an hour each of TP's fifty oil rigs was garrisoned by the paras. The soldiers quickly set to work emplacing MG206E1 MGs, Javelin ATGM launchers (also very useful against small boats), and Stinger missile teams. Each platform was now a small fortress and nothing short of an all out attack would dislodge them, and even then that would cost the attackers dearly.

For now that was the extent of Tolvanic military actions in the area, except for the occasional patrol by F-2s or F-198As over the oilfields. What happened beyond the boundaries of TP's claim was of no concern to the Commonwealth at the moment.

Nationalist Insurgents Threaten Court Proceedings

A people’s Revolutionary Court convened today in Nueva Colon, Confedracia, to try hundreds of their countrymen convicted for counter-revolutionary activity before and after the establishment of the new socialist state. Among the accused were former parliamentarians, conservative journalists, and several generals in the old Confedracian National Army who surrendered to General Cortes following the arrival of his troops in the capital over two months ago. The General was present for the beginning of the proceedings, and looked pleased when the first sentences were pronounced less than half an hour into the trial. Generals Antonio Braga, Eduardo Delgado, Jose Coelho received sentences of death by hanging along with former cinema star and political activist Luis Imaz, and the former editor of the defunct conservative paper El Nacionalista Benjamin Lazada.

Before the sentences could be carried out that afternoon, however, a crude explosive was detonated a few blocks from the courthouse, wounding several Revolutionary Guards and causing a panic in the downtown area. Order was quickly restored and a hunt for the culprits began. General Enrique Cuneo-Vidal, newly installed chief of the national police force claims that several suspects have already been detained and insists that the incident was isolated, however speculation exists as to whether this is the work of a network of former supporters of deposed President Perla who escaped arrest following the revolution.

Brayton, Tolvanic Home Islands
1245 hours

"...General Enrique Cuneo-Vidal, newly installed chief of the national police force claims that several suspects have already been detained and insists that the incident was isolated, however speculation exists as to whether this is the work of a network of former supporters of deposed President Perla who escaped arrest following the revolution."

Scott Moore, National Intelligence Director, shut off the TV that had been showing the Confedracian news cast. He allowed the man seated in his office to mull over this information for a moment before speaking. "As you can see an opportunity has prevented itself. The PM has no interest in committing military personnel, even SF teams, into Confederica. However, we are under no such prohibition." Moore handed the man a large manilla envelope.

The man began leafing through the papers found within the envelope. "I assume we will eskew any direct action?"

Moore pointed to one of the papers in particular. "Yes, for our objective is to locate this resistance, if there is any real organized resistance, and facilitate the deliver of supplies and munitions. Of course there will no evidence of Tolvanic involvement. This is a full Black Op, all personnel involved, including you, are fully expendable if security is compromised."

The man smiled slightly, "If it were easy you wouldn't call me now would you?"

Moore chuckled, "I suppose not. Feel free to make your own arrangements and leave whenever you wish."

A few minutes after the man left a figure emerged from the small door hidden away in the back corner of the office. This man was wearing civillian clothes but had the unmistakeable demeanor of a professional soldier.

Moore glanced at him as approached, "What do you think Colonel?"

The Colonel frowned, "You know I hate this spook shit Scott, but our hands are tied. The only thing I could get the Cabinet to spring for is forward basing a few SAS and SBS teams out on some of our ships but the ROEs are so strict they're basically on vacation out there."

Moore stood and walked to the bar, "Drink Colonel?"

The Colonel sat on one of the couches by the TV, "Only if it's tequila."

Moore returned and handed the Colonel his drink, "Sometimes the most important things happen in the shadows Colonel. Besides it's always better to let someone else do the fighting and the dying whenever possible."

The Colonel raised his glass in a toast, "I'll drink to that."

Diego Jimenez slammed the door shut behind him. He stumbled over to the window, overlooking the tenement district of southern Nueva Colon and slammed the shutters closed, blocking out the midday sun and bathing the musty studio apartment in darkness. Cursing quietly, he opened the laptop sitting on a low coffee table. He could hear commotion outside, and knew in a few moments there would be footsteps on the stairs. He had very little time.

With every remaining ounce of control, he forced his shaking hands to their task, and drafted a brief email. He had no time to properly encrypt it. He could hear them coming up the stairs as he pressed send. He grabbed the computer and rushed towards the window. He threw open the shutters and hurled the machine down five stories, watching it shatter below. There was a banging on the door now, and muffled shouting.

He turned and offered a quick prayer. It was too late to go for the revolver in the nightstand. He was defenseless.

The door exploded inward and three revolutionary guards burst in.

***

“A spokesman for the national police force reported that the alleged mastermind of the bomb plot was located an hour ago and has been taken into custody-”

Febricio Gonzalez switched off the news broadcast and threw his rumpled cap on the sofa. He cursed quietly and collapsed into a chair behind his desk.

“Do you think he’s dead?” asked another man, clad in rumpled fatigues bearing the crest of the old National Army.

“We’ve never been that lucky,” replied Gonzalez. “They’ll interrogate him, and he’ll talk. Then they’ll kill him.”

The other man cursed, and turned towards the bare cinderblock wall.

The door opened and a third man entered the room.

“General Gonzalez, sir, I’m sorry to interrupt.”

“What is it?”

“We received a message from Jimenez, through one of the others working with him. It was brief.”

“Give it to me.”

The third man advanced and placed a sheet of paper on Gonzalez’s desk. He picked it up and scanned it.

Operation was a failure. Everyone else has been arrested. Failed to kill Cortes. They’re coming for me now. Obtained Cortes’s correspondence. Have hidden it with our informant.

“Did you receive anything else?”

“Yes, sir. A package of documents was delivered in person a few minutes ago. I have them.”

Gonzalez took the envelope extended to him, and opened it. He nodded as he scanned them.

“Good. So it wasn’t a total failure.”

“What is it?” asked the other officer in the room.

“Letters from Cortes. To his mistress. Sotelo’s wife.”

He smiled as he said it. The other man looked at him, confused.

“Cortes wants to establish a military government. Sotelo was a compromise. He needs a civilian head to maintain order, but apparently old Emilio is taking issue with some of the General’s plans.”

“Can we exploit it?”

“Hopefully. But now, we have to move. Jimenez will tell them everything hoping for a bargain.”

Gonzalez took the envelope and walked towards the door.

“Burn everything in the file cabinets and be ready to go in an hour. I’m taking this with me.”

He walked up a flight of steps and emerged outside. The jungle canopy that was so thick all around was broken for a few acres here, and the noise of truck engines was heavy in the air. This was it: the last remnant of the dictator Perla’s national army, less than 200 men hidden in the jungle. They had little of everything: fuel, ammo, guns, food. Some men had arrived with nothing more than their uniforms. General Gonzalez had been a mere colonel before he came here, and now with all of this he hoped to topple the revolutionaries that had stolen his country.

“We’re leaving,” he said to a soldier standing near the door. The man saluted and dashed off towards a row of jeeps parked nearby. Gonzalez took another look at the documents. Perhaps he’d found an opening.

Acosta Air Force Base
San Espada Island
Tolvanic Home Islands

Ascota AFB was a deployment site for the Commonwealth's Rapid Reaction Force (RRRF). While there were no plans to commit any additional forces to the Confederican threatre at the moment, it never hurt to be prepared. As a result the 18th Airmobile Infantry Regiment, along with elements of the 33rd Motorised Infantry Regiment were assembling at the base for a possible deployment if necessary. Due to the relatively short distance between Tolvan and Confederica, it would would take transport planes an hour or so to reach Confederican airspace and unload their cargo. The paratroopers lounged about in pup tents, a few officers were lucky wnough to be housed in some of the base's excess barracks space, and cleaned and checked there equipment. In additional a battalion of eight wheeled TLAV armoured vehicles (OOC: similar to a Stryker) had arrived and were being parked on the parade grounds. There were even a few M59A Cougar light tanks (http://www.forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13337652&postcount=262) and several M113A6 Crusader light IFVs (http://www.forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13812506&postcount=555) assembling on the base's football field.

Fort Wellington
San Espada Island
Tolvanic Home Islands

While the RRF was preparing at Acosta AFB, the entire 24th Armoured Regiment had been on alert at Fort Wellington. This meant that normal leave and training exercises were suspended and the regiment intensified its maintenance programs. If the order to deploy was given the 24th Armoured would road march the 77 kilometres to Jackson Naval Base to link up with the squadron of LSTs posted there. From there it was only a couple days trip to Confederica.

From the Desk of Supreme Chancellor Ivan Nikitin

Congradulations on your newly elected president! I have seen it fit, based on your political views, to invite you to a new radical alliance called Socialist Countries for the Advancement of Rebels (SCAR). But the name doesn't tell the whole story. I invite you to view the following SCAR recruitment thread and decide if SCAR is the path for you:

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=567169

Congradulations,
Supreme Chancellor Ivan Nikitin
The Dominion of Xult

From: Comrade Fields
To: Confedracian Government

I reccomend SCAR as I am a member myself. Look it over for it is quite a choice!

OOC: Thought this might need a friendly BUMP.

OOC: Hey guys, been busy catching up with schoolwork so haven't been posting. I'm still here though and i'll be posting soon enough